Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV17805’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘RIKAV17805’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and relative tolerance to powdery mildew.

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKAV17805’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘RIKAV17805’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall,Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorousand freely-branching Verbena plants with numerous flowers and toleranceto powdery mildew.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 5, 2010 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryseedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number08V603-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary seedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as codenumber 09V852-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newVerbena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 9,2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 10, 2011 has shownthat the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘RIKAV17805’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘RIKAV17805’ as a new and distinct Verbenaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. White-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the        foliar plane.    -   7. Relatively tolerant to powdery mildew.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Verbena are darker green in color        than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more mounding than and not as        upright as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘AKIV344-01’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,643. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newVerbena differed primarily from plants of ‘AKIV344-01’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were more compact and mounding than        and not as trailing as plants of ‘AKIV344-01’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Verbena were darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘AKIV344-01’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘AKIV344-01’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘AKIV344-01’ have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can also be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘Vepita White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Verbena differedprimarily from plants of ‘Vepita White’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were larger than plants of ‘Vepita        White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Vepita White’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena were more tolerant to powdery        mildew than plants of ‘Vepita White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV17805’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘RIKAV17805’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late autumn in 11.4-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C.to 38° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels rangedfrom 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time atplanting and were two months old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘RIKAV17805’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Verbena hybrida identified as code number 08V603-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Verbena hybrida identified as code number 09V852-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about five            to six primary lateral branches developing per plant each            with numerous secondary branches; pinching enhances lateral            branch development; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 37 cm by 41 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 21 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading and            decumbent.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent; minute.        -   Color.—Close to 147B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong to ovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Broadly crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; coarse,            hirsute.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 148C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers            arranged in compact hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers            face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about            44 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more            than 400 flowers per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring through the autumn in southern California; early            flowering habit, plants begin flowering about five weeks            after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 4.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2 cm.        -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals            fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe            length: About 7 mm. Petal lobe width: About 6 mm. Petal lobe            shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate to            cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color:            Petal, when opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            NN155D. Petal, fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to NN155D; color does not change with development. Throat:            Close to 157D; distally, small ring, close to 145A. Tube:            Close to 157B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused            towards the base into a slender tube. Sepal length: About            1.4 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly            lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal texture,            outer surface: Pubescent; minute. Sepal color, upper            surface: Close to 144D. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to            146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four            per flower, filaments are adnate to corolla tube. Filament            length, free section: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to            145C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            color: Close to 151A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to N144D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.9 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded, bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1.5 cm.            Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.            Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Verbena.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been    observed to be relatively tolerant to powdery mildew. Plants of the    new Verbena have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Verbena plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV17805’ asillustrated and described.